Barry To Seek Third Straight Council Term

As HBO considers making a movie about Marion Barry with Eddie Murphy in the title role, the real Barry is doing something that comes naturally: running for re-election in the nation's capital.

The former four-term District of Columbia mayor who was busted for smoking crack cocaine 21 years ago now plays the role of elder statesman on the D.C. Council, where he represents Ward 8, situated about four miles from the White House in the southeast section of the city. The poverty rate there hovers around 35%.

At 75, Barry says he fully intends to seek a third straight council term this year, even if the prospect makes some wince. He even predicts his victory margin, saying he'll capture at least 70 percent in the April Democratic primary.

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